Webb telescope reveals distant galaxy GN-z11

Massive black hole and pristine gas clump uncovered

In a groundbreaking discovery, the James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled the mysteries shrouding GN-z11, one of the youngest and most remote galaxies ever observed.

The findings, released in a joint effort by NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency, promise to redefine our comprehension of the early Universe.

Initially detected by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, GN-z11’s brilliance had long perplexed astronomers. The James Webb Space Telescope, equipped with cutting-edge technology, has now provided crucial insights.

A team led by principal investigator Roberto Maiolino from the University of Cambridge found compelling evidence of a central, supermassive black hole rapidly consuming matter, marking it as the most distant active supermassive black hole identified to date.

Black hole

“We found extremely dense gas common near supermassive black holes accreting gas. These were the first clear signatures that GN-z11 is hosting a black hole that is gobbling matter,” explained Maiolino.

Using Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), the team identified ionised chemical elements and mighty wind, consistent with a vigorously accreting supermassive black hole.

Investigator Hannah Übler highlighted Webb’s capability to reveal an extended galaxy component and a central, compact source consistent with an accretion disc surrounding a black hole.

The evidence compiled indicates that GN-z11 houses a two-million-solar-mass supermassive black hole in an active phase of matter consumption, explaining its extraordinary luminosity.

In a parallel study, a second team led by Maiolino utilised Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to uncover a gaseous clump of helium in the halo surrounding GN-z11.

Pristine nature

The absence of other elements beyond helium suggests the clump’s pristine nature, aligning with theoretical expectations of gas pockets surviving in the halos of massive galaxies, potentially forming Population III star clusters.

Finding these Population III stars, the first generation formed from hydrogen and helium, is a pivotal goal in modern astrophysics. The signature of these stars is expected to include ionised helium and an absence of elements heavier than helium.

The discoveries shed light on a fundamental shift in cosmic history, marking the formation of the first stars and galaxies and the evolution of the Universe from a dark, simple state to its current structured complexity.

In forthcoming observations, the research team aims to delve deeper into GN-z11, strengthening the case for forming Population III stars in its halo.

The results on the pristine gas clump in GN-z11’s halo have been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

At the same time, the study of the galaxy’s black hole was published in the journal Nature on January 17, 2024. The data was obtained from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), a joint initiative between the NIRCam and NIRSpec teams.

The James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful telescope in space, is a collaborative effort between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency.

ESA played a pivotal role in its launch service, utilising the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, and contributed essential instruments, including the NIRSpec spectrograph.

Featured image: The GOODS-North field, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera, shows compass arrows, a scale bar, and a colour key for reference. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, B. Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), B. Johnson (CfA), S. Tacchella (Cambridge), M. Rieke (University of Arizona), D. Eisenstein (CfA)